Sam Houston Park Releases 2019 Stakes Schedule

HOUSTON, TX - Sam Houston Race Park will kick off its 2019 Quarter Horse racing season on Friday, April 12. The 20-day meet continues through Saturday, May 25.

Fourteen stakes will be contested highlighted by the running of the $100,000-added Sam Houston Futurity (G2) on Friday, May 3. Trials for the final will be run on Saturday, April 13. Past Sam Houston Futurity winners include Azoom, All American Winner, 2014 AQHA Champion 2-year-old Kiss My Hocks, Especially Tres, Ivan James, This Is An Eagle and 2018 victor FM Im A Zatanaz Too. This year mark’s the debut of the first crop of Kiss My Hocks, who is owned by Tyler Graham and Conda Maze, trained by Toby Keeton and stands at Southwest Stallion Station in Elgin, Texas.

The Bank of America Texas Challenge Championship (G2) is set for Saturday, May 11 with the winner earning a berth into the Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1), at The Downs at Albuquerque on October 26. Two AQHA world champions, Jessies First Down and JRC Callas First have won the 440-yard regional qualifier at Sam Houston Race Park.

Friday and Saturday post times for the 2019 Quarter Horse Meet will be 7 pm with matinee racing offered on Monday afternoons at 12 noon. There will be a special post time of 1:00 pm for Kentucky Derby Day on Saturday, May 4 and the simulcast of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 18.

Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing, reports that interest has been strong for the annual Quarter Horse racing season, which follows the current Thoroughbred meet.

“We look forward to welcoming back our loyal Texas horsemen and to presenting a very competitive Quarter Horse racing season,” said Hopf. “The Space City Maiden Futurity is a new race this year and will close out our meet on a high note.”

Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston. The Park offers a variety of attractions including our Suite Level featuring luxurious suites overlooking the race track and accommodating groups from 20 to 300 people, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.

2019 Sam Houston Race Park Quarter Horse Stakes Schedule

April 20, 2019

$15,000 Harris County Stakes 3 YO & Up 550 yards

April 26, 2019

$25,000 Miss Sam Houston Stakes 3 YO & Up- F&M 330 yards

May 3, 2019

$100,000-added Sam Houston Futurity (G2) 2 YO 330 yards

$25,000 Sam Houston Juvenile Stakes 2 YO 330 yards

$35,000-added Sam Houston Derby (G3) 3 YO 350 yards

May 6, 2019

$20,000-added Colors of Houston Paint Juvenile 2 YO 300 yards

$20,000-added Colors of Hou Paint Maturity(G2) 3 YO & Up 350 yards

May 11, 2019

$15,000-added Sam Houston Maiden Classic 3 YO & Up 350 yards

$50,000-added Bank of America Challenge 3 YO & Up 440 yards

May 17, 2019

$15,000 Governors’ Cup Marathon 3 YO & Up 870 yards

$20,000 Sam Houston Stakes 3 YO & Up 350 yards

$15,000 Texas Twister 3 YO & Up 110 yards

May 25, 2019

$25,000-added Space City Maiden Futurity 2 YO 350 yards

$50,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2) 3 YO & Up 440 yards

2019 Quarter Horse Trial Dates

April 12 Sam Houston Derby

April 13 Sam Houston Futurity

April 19 Sam Houston Maiden Classic Trials

April 20 Bank of America Challenge Championship Trials

May 6 Space City Maiden Futurity Trials

A complete list of the 2019 Quarter Horse schedule is available on shrp.com.